DT: we're chasing Tariq Sims

Transfer news: Eels identify Tariq Sims as the man to help rebuild forward roster

Parramatta are poised to lose plenty of power from their pack at the end of next season – but they have identified the man to fill the gap.

Dean Ritchie

8 min read

December 9, 2021 - 3:59PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

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Parramatta has identified the player who could replace departing forwards Marata Niukore, Ray Stone and Isaiah Papali’i in 2023 – Dragons and NSW star Tariq Sims.

The Daily Telegraph has been told by multiple sources that the Eels have a genuine interest in Sims, who comes off contract at St George Illawarra after this coming season.

And they would be the eighth club across three states linked to Sims, who has represented NSW in three of the past four State of Origin series. His three were all winning series for the Blues.

Niukore will join the New Zealand Warriors, Papali’i has signed at Wests Tigers with Stone off to the Dolphins, the three deals starting from 2023.

Parramatta has manoeuvring room in its salary cap for 2023. No deal has been struck and it remains unknown whether Parramatta has lodged an offer but there is a strong temptation to negotiate with Sims.

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Tariq Sims was told the Dragons did not have cap space to keep him. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Dragons don’t want to lose Sims but told the rampaging forward late last season that the club wasn’t in a position to lodge an offer after his current contract expired.

Sims, 31, is playing career-best footy and was among NSW’s best in this year’s 2-1 series win over Queensland.

The Daily Telegraph reached out to Parramatta general manager of football, Mark O’Neill, for comment but he declined to return calls.

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While unconfirmed, Sims has been previously linked with Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne, North Queensland, Brisbane, Souths and Penrith, along with English Super League clubs.

Rival clubs will quietly monitor any developments surrounding Sims’ future.

Given Niukore, Stone and Papali’i are leaving, Parramatta wouldn’t need to shed any players to sign a player of Sims’ calibre. He would simply be filling a hole in the club’s roster.

Sims would be expected to accept a pay cut at this stage of his career. He will earn around $600,000 this year, his final with the Dragons.

The well-liked Sims admitted to being “devastated” when told he wouldn’t be offered a new contract at Saints.

Parramatta Eels back-rower Isaiah Papali'i was a superb recruitfor 2021. Picture: NRL Photos

“We organised a meeting on two separate occasions to see where their heads were at and where they see me in the Dragons,” Sims told the Sydney media in September.

“On both those occasions, we found out there was no offer to be made for ’23 – that was obviously devastating for me. On the second occasion we found out that if I was to be able to find and secure a longer-term deal somewhere else for ’22 and beyond, they wouldn’t stand in my way.

“The conversations with the Dragons didn’t even reach that point, negotiating length of deals or the financial situations. The conversations we had were pretty short and sharp. I was upset at the start – unfortunately that’s football sometimes.”

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